UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USACONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONSPRESS RELEASE

Portland Oregon Youth Cultural Exchange

The Portland area’s first annual Orthodox Youth Cultural Exchange took place in June at the Agia Sophia Academy, a private Orthodox Christian school, in Beaverton, Oregon. The mission of the Agia Sophia Academy is to educate the whole child by providing a rich academic and Arts curriculum, grounded in Orthodox Christian values, while fostering love of learning, personal responsibility and respect for each person.

Dancers and singers from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Portland joined Greek, Serbian and Russian church youth groups from the area.

St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s portion of program began with Natalia Andrushko, Olesia Nahurska and Sophia Kamsha enchanting the audience with a lovely Ukrainian folk song, “Oy ye v lisi kalyna.” Our dance group: Solomia Kopitko, Ivan Petrouchtchak, Irena Kirnaz, Yuriy Kamsha, Anastasia Nahurska, Vitaliy Fents, Renya Kirnaz and Roman Fents, performed a rousing Hopak, that brought the entire audience to their feet. The St. John's youth group was under the direction of Mrs. Mariya Kamsha and the Ukrainian cultural display was organized by Presbytera Myrolslava Petrouchtchak.

Following the performances, everyone enjoyed fellowship and tasty treats contributed by the participating groups. This event was well received and plans are already underway for next year’s exchange. We were very happy to be part of this event and look forward to participating in 2012.